The man Id always dreamed of left his wife for me, yet I had no clue what lay ahead.
Since my student days in a tiny village near Lyon, Id been sighing for himan allconsuming, reckless love that makes you lose your mind and forget everything else. When he finally noticed me, I abandoned the last shred of common sense I possessed. Years after university, fate brought us together in the same law firm. The same profession, the same interests. I took it as more than coincidencea sign, a fairytale about to unfold.
He seemed perfect, a figure straight out of my fantasies. His marriage didnt bother my youthful self; I didnt understand what it meant to watch a marriage crumble or the hidden pain behind such stories. I felt no shame when Raphaël abandoned his wife for me. Who could have guessed that this choice would bring me so much sorrow? As the proverb says, you cant build your happiness on anothers misery.
When he chose me, I floated on a cloud, ready to forgive anything. In everyday life, however, he was far from a prince. His belongings littered the flat, he outright refused to wash dishes, and the whole housework fell on me like a heavy load. At the time, I turned a blind eyelove had blinded me, made me gentle, compliant, almost submissive.
He quickly erased his former marriage from his memory, as if it never existed. They had no children, and he confessed the marriage had been imposed by his inlaws. With you, its different; youre my destiny, he whispered, and I melted. My joy burned bright but fleeting, like a flash of lightning. Everything shifted when I discovered I was pregnant.
At first Raphaël beamed with pride: a child, his child! We threw a big family celebration, inviting close friends and relatives. Toasts, wishes for health and happiness for the baby that night remains etched in my mind as a warm glow amid the darkness that followed. I dont regret the party, but after that evening my blind love began to dim, like a candle in the wind.
As my belly grew, Raphaëls presence at home dwindled. I took maternity leave, and our meetings were reduced to latenight encounters. He worked late, vanished at corporate events. At first I tolerated it, then it became unbearable. Daily life turned into a nightmare: pregnant and immobile, I watched his socks and shirts strewn everywhere, a silent accusation hanging over me. I wondered whether we had rushed into parenthood. I knew love cools with time, but I never imagined it would evaporate so quickly.
He still brought flowers and chocolate, but that wasnt what I neededI craved his company, his support, his warmth. Then the truth exploded. A casual coffee chat with colleagues revealed a new hire in our department, young and energetic. The team was already stretched thin, and my maternity leave had pushed things to a breaking point. Coincidence? I wasnt sure, but it was clear Raphaël had someone else. His life now revolved around work, meetings, and urgencies. One day I found a note with unfamiliar initials tucked into his jacket pocket. My heart constricted, yet I slipped it back, pretending not to notice, terrified of being alone in my seventh month.
He complained that I was always on edge, and every argument ended with a weary sigh, as if I were a burden. I dreaded addressing the core issueI knew it was the end. Then it happened. The most terrible words Ive ever heard: Im not ready for a child. I have another woman. I cant recall exactly how he said it; my head was buzzing, my world collapsing. I thought I was losing my mind from the pain and humiliation.
But I found strength within. I filed for divorce, each letter feeling like a punch to the heart. He never expected me to act, never expected me to toss his stuff out the next day. Luckily the flat was rented, so we didnt have to share it.
And the child? Think about the child! How will you manage? he shouted as he left.
Ill manage. Ill work from home, and my parents will help. Mom always said you were a womanizer; I should have listened, I replied, closing the door.
Responsibility for my son gave me an inner power I never knew I had. Alone, I might never have left, but for him I could. His betrayal was so vile that I erased Raphaël from my life as if hed never existed. My eyes opened, and I finally saw who he truly was.
The months after the divorce, including the birth, were hellish. I moved back with my parents in a neighboring townthey welcomed me warmly, especially thrilled about their grandson. I missed Raphaël, but I chased those thoughts away. Deep down I knew Id made the right decision and would give my son everything I could.
Once I regained some energy, I returned to worktranslating legal texts from home. There were months without income, but my parents supported me until I built a client base. My son grew, the years slipping by unnoticed until I realized he needed his own space. My parents didnt want us to leave, yet I dreamed of independencea office for me, a room for him to study. By then I could afford to rent my own place.
Life improved. Kindergarten gave way to school, primary to middle school, and for the first time in years I felt free and at peace. Then he resurfaced. In our small town everyone knows each other in the legal circles. Raphaël located my office without trouble. I regretted not having moved farther away! He claimed hed taken a step back, regretted the past, and called himself young and stupid. He asked to meet his son, a child hed never seen.
Legally, he has the right to see him, and if he wants, he will get that right. The thought chilled my blood. Weeks have passed since that conversation. I said Id think about it, but my mind is a messI dont trust him and refuse to let him near my son. Is this my punishment? The price for having taken him away from his first wife? Im seriously considering moving to another city, to protect us from a past that has once again knocked on our door.
The Man of My Dreams Left His Wife for Me, But I Had No Idea What Awaited Me
